Felix Seuffert

Bio

Felix Seuffert is a Cape Town based documentary filmmaker, cinematographer and photojournalist. His work is focused on social issues mainly on the African continent. After finishing his degree in Photojournalism at the University of Applied Sciences and Arts in Hannover, Germany he resettled to South Africa and slowly traversed into the motion picture area.

His work has been broadcast on major international networks such as the BBC, arte, CCTV, Discovery Channel, screened in numerous film festivals around the globe, and printed in a wide array of newspapers and magazines, including Harper’s Magazine, GEO, Der Spiegel and the Sunday Times of London. His independent directing debut, Port Nolloth: Between A Rock And A Hard Place, an atmospheric documentary about the South African diamond mining town of Port Nolloth, has won three South African Film And Television Awards. Other examples of his work have won Best Cinematography at UNAFF and the SAFTAs as well as a Deutscher Reporterpreis. Felix’ corporate clients include BMW, General Electrics and Siemens.

Reflection

Many Malagasy people attribute immense power to their ancestors. It is therefore not surprising that honoring the dead plays an important role in their everyday lives. So much so that the Famadihana, the Festival of the Dead, every few years swallows up the modest savings of the whole family. Crypts have to be refurbished, shrouds bought, numerous guests fed and entertained. The resulting festivity is a moving reunion with dear departed family members for some and a funfair for others. For either, the consumption of large amounts of local moonshine is an essential part of the ceremony.

So, before we knew it we found ourselves in the middle of a mad rush of raw emotion somewhere between ecstasy and grief. The insurmountable language barrier wasn’t lowered by the level of intoxication on the part of the locals. Add the infernal and incessant noise from the ever-present brass bands and you have a shooting environment that is challenging at best. Trouble really started when our sound recordist got seriously ill with food poisoning.

Being invited to such an exclusive event in the end was a true privilege. I will not forget the sense of mystical awe that beset me when the massive stone gate of the crypt opened with a low rumble to let the party crowd enter the world of the dead. Resting in peace does certainly not seem to be something to aspire to in Madagascar…